Novel Amino Acid-Based Surfactant for Silicone Emulsification and Its Application in Hair Care Products: A Promising Alternative to Quaternary Ammonium Cationic Surfactants

The study investigated the use of N-[3-alkyl(12,14)oxy-2-hydroxypropyl]-l-arginine hydrochloride (N-AOHPA) as a novel amino acid-based surfactant for silicone emulsification in hair care products, comparing it to traditional quaternary ammonium cationic surfactants (ACSs). The emulsions were prepared using both a homogenizer and a high-pressure homogenizer, with the latter producing more stable emulsions. N-AOHPA-stabilized emulsions demonstrated superior stability and smaller droplet size compared to ACS-stabilized emulsions. Notably, N-AOHPA-stabilized silicone showed higher adsorption on bleached hair and effectively prevented amino acid dissolution from bleached hair, suggesting its potential as an effective emulsifier for improving the condition of damaged hair.